Separation of solids from liquids



Sept. 6 1927. 1,641,708

5. SYMINGTON SEPARATION OF SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS Filed Jun e 26. 1920 Patented Sept. 6, 1927..

UNITED STATES.

mans

PATENT oFFicE;

. .sco'r'r sYiviine'ron, o EAs'sAIc, NEW JEEsEY.

SEPARATION. o -soLIns FROM LIQUIDS;

Application filed June 26,

My invention relates to the separation of solids from liquids and has as an-object the providing of an apparatus and a. method whereby this result is accomplished in a substantially continuous, thorough and econom- 'ical manner.

The methods employed, heretofore, for the preferred formof apparatus embodying my invention and by means of which the method of my invention may be performed; and therein 2 Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of such apparatus; and

Figure 2 is a plan view of a portion of such apparatus. V

In accordance with my invention the separation of solids from liquids may be carried out by delivering the mixture to be treated to a progressively advanced porous medium,

continuously folding the solid within the medium whilst partially removing the liquid therefrom and subsequently treating in a continuous manner by pressing, washing,

again pressing and drying. For the accomplishment of this separation there may be provided aporous septum 3 capable of progressive advancement in the direction indicated by the arrow, and preferably of endless form, which is led from a guide roll 2, to. which is attached a tensioning device such as yielding means 1 which may, for example, comprise a weighted lever,the function of said roll 2 and yielding means 1 being to maintain the septum under a tension so that said septum will be properly guided and the tendency to fold or wrinkle will be done away with, and the septum held firmly against the unfolding device-to a gulde roll 4 and thence to the folding block 23, by means of which the folding of the septum is begun and the septum assumes a troughlike form.

The mixture under treatment may be de- 1920. Serial N0. 391,863.

livered to the trough-like septum, as it. leaves the folding block, from acontainerb wh ch is, preferably, provided with an agitating device in order to present as uniform a, mixture as possible to the porous septum. This'container may be placed'above the porous septum and the mixture allowed to run thereon, by gravity, or the container may be placed atany particularly advan tageous point and the mixture transported to the septumby means of a pump. An arrangement for such a container with relation to the septum is that which is illustrated in the drawing;the container 5 being adapted with a means 28 for agitating the liquid, and

having leading therefrom a pipe 6 for conveying the mixture'from the container tothe septum, the rate of flow being controlled by a valve 7. 7

From the-folding block 23, the septum then passes over a surface 9 provided with apertures which surface may form, for example, the uppermost boundary .of suction box 8. The surface 9 may conform to any desired shape, as for instance fiat or slightly 7,

troughed. V

During the passage over the surface 9, the greater amount of the liquid is removed, and in order to obtain a uniform layer of solid upon the septum which uniformity will serve to obviate difiiculties due to banking up and a consequent clogging during subsequent operations, there may be provided a leveling or scraping means 24 as, for example, a portion ofthe folding arms out and bent down ward or a bar or plate suspended above the septum at the desired elevation. The sep tum during its-advancement is folded by suitable folding means in'order to ,enclose the collected solid. This folding may be brought about by a device, such as by the arms 25 and 26 (Fig. 2) which may be of any suitable structure as, for instance, arms oneoverlapping the other and possessing a considerable degree of resiliency. The resiliency' of the folding arms maybe inherent to the material of which the arms are constructed, or the material may possess not any inherent resiliency, the same being trans- "mitted to the arms by suitably .mounted' spring members 10.

'The folded body may then be drawn through the constricted passage 27 andthence over the guide roll'15to a, positive pressure device'or directly to the pressing means, which, may comprise, for example, a set of cylindrical rolls arranged in suitable supporting members 31 and provided with means for adjusting the pressure exerted by s said rolls. These pressing means exert upon the folded mass a positive pressing or wring ing action thus causlng "a "further separation of solid and liquid.

The material leaving, for instance, the

IQ press rolls 11 is, for many practical purposes,

*suflicie'ntly free from mother liquor for utilization but in order to entirely free the solid from impurities contained in the mother liquor I may provide a washing 15 nieanswhich, as illustrated maycom-prise a pipe '12 arranged above a suction box 13, said pipe preferably being perforated in .sucha manner that the washing liquid may be sprayed upon the surface of the folded septum. The washing liquid adheringto the the washing operation may be further re-.

solid maythen be partially removed bypassing the septum-enclosed solidover a suction box 13 whereby l quid- 1s dlsplacedby am,

In. order that the liquid remalnmg after moved from the solid there may be provided a pressing means such as press rolls 14, and asuitable'drier, as, a drying box 16. The method of drying and the temperature employed, it willbe realized, must be regulated 'inert with respect to the product, or by steam coils or other heating means; and by means 'of reduced-pressure within said drying box theheated gas ma be causedto pass through the material at a igher rate thereby hastening the drying.

, In order to openthe'septuin and allow for v the removaliof the solid,I may provide an unfolding means '17 which may comprise a tongue or cone shaped member adapted to enter, raiseand bend outward the upper and lower folds of the septum. i The confining portions of the septum are, thus removed whereupon the dry solid will,as a rule, de-

I 'bodying "the folding of the septum in 'order tach itself, without the application of any mechanical means. However, in order to obviate the possibility of'any of the solid remaining attachedto the septum I may provide a'scraping means in conjunction with the unfolding member which will completely detach the solidfrom-the carrying septum. The septum returnsto the separating operation by meansof'rolls 2 ands; and folding [block 28.. Immediately below the unfolding and scraping member there maybe provided a hopper 18, or otherv mechanical device, serving to convey the solid to the containing rece'ptacles. Itwill'be noted that the above mentioned unamingjand scraping member engages ,at an acute angle against the sep- "tun'nthat is to say, the septum engages the craping edge in a line which lies at an acute angle to the plane of the unfolder and scraper.

A diminution of pressure may be occasioned bythe use of a standard evacuating device as, for instance, by employing a wet vacuum pump such as is illustrated at 21 and'21f Pipes 19 and 19 lead directly to reservoirs '20 and 20, said reservoirs being in direct connection with the vacuum pumps land .21 \vhich force the liquor 'anden liveringthe mixture to a trough shaped septum which is progressively advanced overfa'n apertured suriace, thence enfoldingtheisolid within the septum, and passinqthe's eptumencl ed solid through a constrictedchannel, Ye: 11g a positive pressing influence'thereon, washing, again pressing, drying, unfolding, and leasing th e'septum baclr totlie point at which the mixture'is received, there-is obtained an etiicient separation of solid from the liquid in a continuous cycle of operations. v I v V v v The folding ofthe porousseptum as it passes over the apertured surface is progressively 'accoiiplisl'ied, a'sit proceeds from the point indicated X to the point indicated Z on the drawings, in such a way that the fiat septum at. X is, by means of the folding block, folded into a rectangular trough-like shape upon reaching the point Y. Fromthe point Y the folding is ca rried outc ont-i a fo'usly until pointZ is reached, at which-pomt the septum is completely foldedandt'he solid entirely enfolded.

Furthermdre,that part-'of my process em- 'to enclose the soli-d-material and subsequent passage between cylindrical rolls for separation of-solid from liquid may be carried out in .connection with any of the methods in use heretofore in that the solid material, after having been freed; as thoroughly as possible from the liquidby previous methods, may be delivered to the progressively advanced porous septum which is then folded so as to enclose the solid and passed through fone or more sets of cylindrical rolls whereby the material is 'more completely dried.

, In the passing of the 'porousseptum'over the apertured surface, the movement imparted to the septum may be continuous or intermittent, and this movement may be and construction are simple and the space by virtue of its being a substantially continuous process, since there is thereby obviated the losses attendant to many handlings and a great part of the attention previously required is eliminated hence reducing the cost for labor. The installation occupied is relatively small both of which are factors of importance and, in consequence of the novel features embodied, I obtain a product sufficiently dry for immediate utilization.

The porous septum may be composed of a suitable textile such as a cotton or Woolen fabric. For example, in the separating of mixtures which are neutral or but slightly acid or alkaline, it has been found that a good grade of cotton fabric is well adapted to bring about the separation; whereas in certain other operations, particularly those which have a fairly high acidity, it may be found particularly advantageous to use a Woolen septum. It will also be apparent that the construction materials for the various other parts of my apparatus will be so chosen as to be adapted, tothe type of work which it is desired tohave the apparatus carry out.

It will, of course, be understood that the illustrative embodiment of my invention above described may be modified and varied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim: I v 7 1. In an apparatus for the separation of solids from liquids, the combination with a porous septum, of means for imparting motion thereto, means'for removing the liquid from the solid through said septum, means for Washing the solid on the septum after the initial removal of the liquidtherefrom;

and means forremoving the washing fluid from said solid.

2. In an apparatus for the separation of solids from liquids, the combination with an ,endless septum, of means for supplying the same with a saturated solid, means for folding the septum around said solid, means .for

partially removing fluidfrom solid through said septum, means for completing the removal of the fluid, means for subsequently washing the solid, means for removing the washing fluid from the solid, and means for unfolding the septum and removing the solid therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 18th day of June, 1920. i 1

sooTT SYMINGTON. [n s.] 

